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Mahmudiyah

The city of Mahmudiyah is located 25 kilometers south of Baghdad.

FOB St. Michael

In April 2003 soldiers with the Army Reserve's 431st Civil Affairs Battalion, attached to the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), went out on an assessment mission of the local infrastructure of the town of Al Mahmudiyah. The were basically identifying problems they are having such as water, sewage and power. The team separated in to four groups, established rally points and discussed the plans of the day. Within minutes the soldiers came upon a large group of civilians. Fortunately for the soldiers, the mood of the crowd was a pleasant.

TF 3-505 operates out of FOB St Michael. They are making great progress in defeating enemy and threat forces in their zone. In October 2003 they conducted a cordon and search detaining a former Iraqi Republican Guard two star general. This general was very sought after. He gave them very useful information during his interrogation that will undoubtedly result in more successful missions. TF 3-505 continues to make improvements to their FOB. They recently expanded their FOB by building a half-mile perimeter around the backside of their FOB. They are in the process of repositioning the living tents and reinforcing them with wooden floors, walls and roofs. They are also constructing a running track.

An ambush on a convoy traveling near Al Mahmudiyah, south of Baghdad, led to one 3rd Corps Support Command soldier being killed by small arms fire at about 6:30 p.m. local time, 09 July 2003. One soldier from 3rd Battalion, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division was killed and two were wounded when their patrol was ambushed by rocket-propelled grenades and small arms fire near the city of Mahmudiyah at approximately 8:00 p.m. 05 November 2003.

As of mid-September 2003 TF 3-505 continued FOB improvements and have turned an old Chicken Meat Packing Plant into a robust FOB. It is amazing what troopers will do with a little money and a few vertical engineers. They were constructing a running track around the backside of their erimeter. They continue to operate in and around the Mahmudiyah area and are making good process. All of the troopers in 3 Panther are living in Tier 3 Tents with A/C and a wooden frame. They get showers daily and are eating at least two hot meals daily.